Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Midland County could lose more than $368,000 in state revenue sharing next year.

"I think it's likely this cut is going to happen," Administrator/Controller David Benda said. "It's going to affect all local governments."

Revenue sharing was one of many topics at Tuesday's Board of Commissioners executive committee meeting.

Benda said he doesn't know how much will be cut until the state completes its budget in June. He did say the county will need to find more than $368,000 to avoid cutting services.

Another issue is state-owned land. Benda passed out a Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) discussion statement issues affecting county revenue, including state-owned land.

In lieu of property taxes, the state makes payments to offset the cost of county services. The state has struggled to make these payments over the past few years and has fallen behind. MAC is recommending the state resume full reimbursement to the local communities that provide services in areas with state land.

For Midland County, the amount owed by the state is $8,000 to $9,000 yearly. Pine Haven Recreation Center is one property that belongs to the state Department of Natural Resources. This is more of a problem in the northern counties, large portions of which are state land.

Benda also is working on a price analysis on how many state-mandated services are paid for by the state.

"They're not covering what they told us to do," Benda said.

The committee also discussed hiring a communications person. This was in response to a recent letter by Donald Deibert.

County officials said they are concerned about getting information out.

"We have no one here to do that job," Benda said.

County officials will look into it further and then make a recommendation.